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An analysis of true- and false-positive results of vocal fold uptake in positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2017

N Seymour ,
G Burkill  and
M Harries
N Seymour*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
G Burkill
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
M Harries
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Ms Nicky Seymour, Flat 9, 12–14 Wellington Road, Brighton BN2 3AA, UK E-mail: Nickyseymour@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objectives:

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose has a major role in the investigation of head and neck cancers. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose is not a tumour-specific tracer and can also accumulate in benign pathology. Therefore, positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan interpretation difficulties are common in the head and neck, which can produce false-positive results. This study aimed to investigate patients detected as having abnormal vocal fold uptake on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography.

Methods:

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans were identified over a 15-month period where reports contained evidence of unilateral vocal fold uptake or vocal fold pathology. Patients’ notes and laryngoscopy results were analysed.

Results:

Forty-six patients were identified as having abnormal vocal fold uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Twenty-three patients underwent positron emission tomography-computed tomography and flexible laryngoscopy: 61 per cent of patients had true-positive positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans and 39 per cent had false-positive scan results.

Conclusion:

Most patients referred to ENT for abnormal findings on positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans had true-positive findings. Asymmetrical fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose uptake should raise suspicion of vocal fold pathology, accepting a false-positive rate of approximately 40 per cent.

Keywords

Vocal CordsLaryngeal CancerPET-CTFluorodeoxyglucose F18
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 3 , March 2018 , pp. 270 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2017 

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Footnotes

Presented orally at the Royal Society of Medicine, Laryngology and Rhinology Section meeting, 3 February 2017, London, UK.

References

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